I was leaving la going over the grapevine on the freeway,after reaching the top I started on the down side of the grade when the brakes went out completely.traffick everywhere barely made it to safety,without hitting two autos in front of me! I was scared to death.the master cylinder $438.58 went out. September 18th2013,5:40am,no power to engine the gas pedal was not working could not go more than 20 miles an hour,I was in traffic and was almost rear ended when it happened all at once.the electric gas pedal went out!. Repair cost $430.00.mileage only43069.
2008 Kia Sorento acceleration complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 28 of 28, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Driving to work on the highway at 65 MPH, I lost significant power and was unable to accelerate past 40 MPH on a local highway. I was able to slowly drive to a auto center where I was told my transfer case assembly and accelerator pedal assembly was malfunctioning, causing me to lose power and causing my car to shift erratically while driving. I have owned this car for less than 11 months.
My 2008 kia has had a continuing problem with the ESC off light coming on intermittently. Causing failure to accelerate properly. Dealer ran diagnostics. Replaced an item and said that should take care of it. Within three weeks it started again. The light would come on and I would lose power. The dealer stated it wasn't related but I never lost power until the light would come on. They checked it again and couldn't find any problem. Service tech said he couldn't "recreate" the issue. The light was on when he tested it, but I took it too another licensed mechanic shop and they could tell that there was no acceleration power. Any one who drove the car could tell that it wouldn't accelerate. Now the ESC off light then stays on constantly. No acceleration. Will not allow 4 wheel access to operate. Transmission shifts from 1st to 5th too rapidly not allowing the acceleration. I'm obviously not the only one with this problem that the service tech's can't seem to figure out.
Backed out of driveway, check engine & ESC off light came on, wouldn't accelerate over 20mph. Brought back home and parked. Few hours later took granddaughter to dentist and only check engine light illuminated. Didn't go off until took to auto zone on asheville hwy, knoxville, tn. After placing on diagnostic machine and giving a print out of probable causes, check engine light went off. Took to dealership on 7/29 and wouldn't except diagnosis since they didn't perform. Was showing electrical and valve problems. Stated unable to repair due to lights not being on when car was at the kia dealership. Stated replaced the problem with recall. However, now stating motor seals need replaced which is covered under warranty. Unsure if other issue has been resolved due to no issues since friday.
Driving on a surface street with a 40 MPH speed limit. Car suddenly lost power and could not get speed above 20 MPH. We were lucky that there wasn't much traffic about as this could definitely have caused an accident. When this happened both the ESC off light and the check engine light came on. We had to leave our car in nevada and get a rental car to get home to arizona, we have no idea when we will get our car fixed and back home. We were owners of a kia rondo and the same thing happened to that vehicle too (no longer own that one). This vehicle needs to be recalled immediately and kia needs to admit that there is something seriously wrong and that they will take responsibility for fixing it. Too many owners having exactly the same problem, we should not be ignored.
I was driving on an interstate with a speed limit of 65 MPH when with no warning the "check engine" and "ESC off" lights came on simultaneously. At the same time, the engine lost power, causing my vehicle to suddenly decelerate and almost causing a collision both with the car behind me and with the cars merging over from an entrance ramp. Luckily, I was able to safely maintain control of my car and put on my hazard lights to warn other drivers of my much slower speed. Even depressing the gas pedal to the floor, I was unable to accelerate above 55 MPH, and my speed going up hills was significantly slower. Once I was able to safely reach a shoulder with comfortable clearance, I pulled over and stopped the car for a few minutes. I restarted the car, both lights remained on, and I similarly was unable to accelerate the car appropriately, especially from a stop. I limped along with my hazard lights for the last few miles to work where I immediately began researching this issue only to find that this is far from an isolated incident. In fact, this problem seems to be pervasive in kias of similar model year. There are scores of kia owners who have experienced a similar series of events. The sudden and unexpected loss of power with absolutely no warning is highly dangerous in any situation, but especially so on the interstate when speed limits are so high. I was so lucky that the drivers around me and I were able to avoid an injury-causing crash. This issue needs to be investigated swiftly and thoroughly. Again, a simple search of this very website as well as other online car forums reveals a problem so widespread that it should warrant a recall by kia.
Started car to warm up for trip to work. Esc light stayed/came on. Engine wouldn't allow speed over 55 with the gas pedal floored. Took to kia dealer made appointment.
I was about to get on the highway when my 2008 kia sorento refused to accelerate. I had to pull over and while I was doing so I did not have my foot on the gas or brake. Instead it was braking itself. This the 3rd time this has happened. I'm ready to get a new car! Kias suck!
I have researched and found that other 2008 kia sorrento owners have reported to kia, about the ESC light coming on causing lost of power in the vehicle. Kia is content to charge customer a diagnostic fee, fix part that do not need to be fixed when clearly there is a defect in the vehicle. When you mention to them the complaints filed about the problem, they indicate the have never heard anything about it instead of taking the time to look on safecar.gov, they continue to brush it off. Not sure how being on the hwy driving at 70 MPH and your vehicle suddenly dropping to 20mph is a customer problem. Also not sure how when you place my car on the machine and it gives you a code to fix this life threatening problem and it happens again causing me to have to coast into the emergency lane to keep from being hit from behind with 2 children in the back seat is a customer problem sounds like a defect to me.
While driving the electronic stability control "off" (ESC off) light and the check engine light came on at the same time. Upon taking it to the a mechanic, he informed me that the accelerator pedal position sensor was bad. I continued reading online, and have notice this has happened on many occasions. When this occurs the vehicle looses all power to make any necessary corrective actions which could result in a accident. It also slows the car drastically while in motion, again with the possibility of causing an accident. ## VIN failed ##
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia sorento. While driving approximately 5 MPH the RPM readings increased and the vehicle independently accelerated to 20 MPH. The contact applied the brake pedal but the brakes were hesitant to respond. The contact also used the emergency brake in order to stop the vehicle. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 53,455.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia sorento. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnose that the acceleration sensor needed to be replaced. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 76,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia sorento. The contact stated that while driving into a parking space, the vehicle surged forward and crashed into a tree. There was one reported injury. The vehicle was towed away from the location. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 27,000.
For the 3rd time my wife's car ESC light and check engine light came on as the vehicle speed came to almost a stop. This is very dangers for up hill or in heavy traffic. She also had previous problems with the ESC light and tps light coming on. Taken to dealer several times over the last year. We were told today it was a throttle sensor problem. It was replaced today and hopefully that fixes the problem, although I see on the internet where this is a common occurring problem. I hope someone does not have to get hurt before this is a recall issue.
I have no rear brake light. The ESC off light comes on in the dash. I can turn on the cruise control but I can't set a speed for cruise control. I have a remote starter that has a safety switch when the brake is pressed turns the remote starter off that isn't working correctly cause there is no signal that the brake has been pressed.
Driving 75 MPH on highway the ESC off light luminated and check engine light came on. Car lost acceleration and power (went from 75 MPH to 10 MPH instantly on hwy). Kia replaced the tps sensor and updated ECM module. One year later same event happened repeatedly. Dealer will not fix even with tech bulletin. Tried to contact kia motors with no return response. At the current time the vehicle will not accelerate. Fastest it will go is 45mph even with acceleration pedal pushed all the way down. When you try to pull out or accelerate the vechicle looses power. Randomly the check engine and "ESC off" light will go off and car will accelerate but once over 65mph will lose all power has almosted caused several wrecks that would have caused an accident from behind. The lack of power is dangerous but not as dangerous as the vehicle losing power on the highway or while trying to pull out from a complete stop. Vehicle has lost power in intersection nearly causing side wreck. Searched on internet and tps seems to be common problem
My 2008 kia sorento's throttle accelerator sensor has gone out for the second time in a year. I looked this issue up online, since this is the second time, and found extensive complaints about the same problem. When it goes out the electronic stability control system quits functioning also. My car has less than 20,000 miles on it. It has a loss of power and stability control when this happens. The dealership knew exactly what had happened and ask me to bring it in. This should not happen repeatedly.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia sorrento. She stated while driving at 70 MPH, the check engine and ESC warning lights illuminated. The vehicle then independently decelerated to speeds of 5 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who advised that the throttle pedal was damaged. The throttle pedal was replaced. The failure recurred within one month. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was awaiting repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and she was advised that the parts were on back order due to the demand for the particular part. The failure and current mileage was 33,000.
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